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Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Start Date
6-5-2026 10:30 AM
End Date
6-5-2026 11:00 AM
Description
Historically, bottom ash has been beneficially used as a drainage layer within the final cover system for a coal combustion residual (CCR) landfill, positioned above the linear low-density polyethylene liner and below the protective soil cover and topsoil layers. This sustainable approach not only diverts bottom ash from waste management streams but also conserves natural resources by replacing the need for virgin materials, resulting in significant cost savings for ratepayers. To support the continued use of bottom ash in this application, an environmental assessment was completed. The assessment included sampling of bottom ash, an alternative drainage layer composed of virgin material, topsoil, and stormwater in contact with (i.e., flowing through) the bottom ash drainage layer and in perimeter ditches. Analytical results for leachable fractions of key constituents in bottom ash samples were generally comparable to or lower than those observed in the alternative drainage layer virgin sand samples. Stormwater samples collected from the landfill downspouts contained low levels of certain metals; however, no detections exceeded the applicable screening levels in the perimeter stormwater swales, indicating that the constituents of concern were located at the points of discharge and did not result in impacts downstream of the downspouts. Overall, the findings demonstrate that bottom ash performs equivalently to or better than traditional materials as a drainage layer, supporting its continued beneficial use in CCR landfill final cover systems.
Document Type
Presentation
Paper
Archival?
Archival
Included in
Energy Systems Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Mining Engineering Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, Structural Materials Commons, Sustainability Commons
Evaluation of Bottom Ash for Beneficial Use
Lexington, Kentucky
Historically, bottom ash has been beneficially used as a drainage layer within the final cover system for a coal combustion residual (CCR) landfill, positioned above the linear low-density polyethylene liner and below the protective soil cover and topsoil layers. This sustainable approach not only diverts bottom ash from waste management streams but also conserves natural resources by replacing the need for virgin materials, resulting in significant cost savings for ratepayers. To support the continued use of bottom ash in this application, an environmental assessment was completed. The assessment included sampling of bottom ash, an alternative drainage layer composed of virgin material, topsoil, and stormwater in contact with (i.e., flowing through) the bottom ash drainage layer and in perimeter ditches. Analytical results for leachable fractions of key constituents in bottom ash samples were generally comparable to or lower than those observed in the alternative drainage layer virgin sand samples. Stormwater samples collected from the landfill downspouts contained low levels of certain metals; however, no detections exceeded the applicable screening levels in the perimeter stormwater swales, indicating that the constituents of concern were located at the points of discharge and did not result in impacts downstream of the downspouts. Overall, the findings demonstrate that bottom ash performs equivalently to or better than traditional materials as a drainage layer, supporting its continued beneficial use in CCR landfill final cover systems.
